The 23-year-old headlines A Friday fights 140 on Friday, January 30 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, where he will take on Myanmar powerhouse Thway Lin Htet in a high-stakes strawweight Muay Thai match. As the most active participant in the weekly series’ history, Kongchai comes in with experience that few others can match.
A former Muay Thai world champion at Rajadamnern Stadium, he built his reputation on a punishing left straight, a destructive left body kick and clinching, refined through constant exposure at the highest level. But experience alone hasn’t put that life-changing $100,000 prime contract within reach.
Years of navigating high-pressure battles have honed his sense of urgency. Now he’s approaching this matchup as an opportunity to impose pace and intent from the opening bell instead of waiting for the judges.
“Thway Lin Htet’s durability doesn’t scare me. I’ve fought a lot of tough guys and won,” he said. “I actually prefer fighting fighters. When I’m in a brawl, I usually win. It’s the muay thigh fighters that give me more trouble.”
“I saw his last fight – he’s incredibly strong. Even when Sam-A caught him with big shots, he stood his ground. His strength is his unpredictability. He throws those weird, flashy moves, like that spinning fist that caught Sam-A. He clearly trains those, and they can be tricky to defend. He’s got a lot of X-factor in his punches.”
Kongchai promises a faster start against Thway Lin Htet
Despite victories, Kongchai Chanaidonmueang remains dissatisfied with recent performances. His last outing against ONE veteran Walter Goncalves delivered a victory, but defensive errors and delayed aggression left room for improvement.
The southpaw acknowledged that while his kicks scored consistently, he ate too many shots due to poor blocking. His biggest frustration remains the tendency to start slowly, forcing him to wait until the third lap before he can really let his hands go.
That pattern ends Friday. Kongchai plans to hunt for the knockout immediately by targeting the Myanmar striker’s defensive weaknesses and conditioning issues. Thway Lin Htet does not control kicks well, and his defense can be sloppy if he is pressured early.
“This time I’m going to throw everything at him. I’m going to hunt for the knockout,” he said. “If we’re going to act and I see a gap, then I’ll go for it. I definitely want that bonus. His weakness is that he doesn’t check the kicks well, his defense can be sloppy. He’s tough, for sure, but if he gets hit, he slows down.”
“I’ve seen him stall. If he doesn’t control my kicks, he’s in trouble. As soon as I land my power shots, he’ll fade. In this fight, I’ll immediately pick up the pace. No more ‘slow starter’ excuses. If I get past him, I’ll be ready for anyone who throws ONE at me. In this division, Prajanchai is the gold standard.”
The goal this year is simple: get more wins. Last year yielded just two victories for the Tor Sangtiennoi athlete, forcing him to face the reality that keeping busy is just as important as performing well.
“My goal this year is to get more wins. Last year I only got two, so I need to stay busier,” he said. “To the fans, please continue to support me. I’m going to give everything. Physically and mentally I’m 100 percent. And to Thway Lin Htet, see you Friday. Get ready to get my guns!”
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